3. Existing Product
The location used for this magazine is in the ocean rather than a studio or
random pictures. This is because it is about shark diving so having a shark
for the front cover will catch the target audiences attention. It also has a
big title saying scuba diving, this is done so that the reader can easily tell
what this magazine is about without having to look inside it. This helps as
people will pick it up from just reading the title because it is what they
are interested in. There is hardly any adverts on the cover page meaning
that it is mainly for guidance and facts to help new divers to be safe and
knowing what they are getting themselves into. The picture is not
covered by text giving it a lot of room to be seen, also the text is
contrasting with the dark ocean so using white and yellow text gives it a
lot more exposure to the viewer. The text picture ratio is around even as
the text doesn’t get in the way of the picture but it acts more of a
boarder to the picture. The inside to the magazine is filled with facts and
numbers to help with the divers knowledge for when they do it, also
having titles such as currents and peoples experiences help a lot with the
information of the magazine.
5. Existing Product
The photography is in the water or on the beach, this is because it is a surf
magazine so it will be mainly wildlife or surfing. There is a lot of awareness
such as keeping the water clean or more sustainable ideas. These are some
of the adverts they put into the magazine but mainly they advertise
companies which make surfboards, wetsuits and fins. The picture to text
ratio is very one sided as the picture takes most of the cover with just a
little bit of writing in the corner and the title is separated from the picture
so it doesn’t intrude. Also the colours used are bright for the picture
whereas the text is black. It is easy to read but it doesn’t make the text stick
out. But they make the title of their magazine stick out as they separated it
from the picture and added a white background for the title making it very
noticeable for the viewer. The audience appeal comes with the simple
design but it shows that this magazine is made for surfers and is less about
advertisement. Even the inside is simple and nice to look at as it is less
writing and a lighter font so it isn’t as heavy and makes everything look
bright and well put together. Also the pictures are the main background for
the pages so you can read with a nice view.
7. Existing Product
This is a old magazine but it still looks good and works well with the other
magazines I have found. Such as it gives the picture a lot of room to be seen
as it even covers up some of the title, so having a cool image was their top
priority. Instead of having adverts on the front cover, it tells you what
happens in the magazine so it gives you an idea of what you are buying.
The colour scheme is bright as the background picture has vibrant colours
but the text is also bright with red and yellow as their main colours. This
works as it makes the front cover good looking but it is still easy to read
even though it has less contrast. The text to picture ratio is more one sided
to the picture as it blocks some of the title and the text is moved so that it
doesn’t interfere with the picture. The appeals the audience because back
then a good picture was everything so having a magazine with a picture
being the main thing to see would make people want to buy the magazine.
The inside of the magazine is a lot different to magazines nowadays as it is
full of pictures with little writing to go along with it.
8. Research Analysis
• What common features do the researched products have?
Each of the magazines I have research all let the picture have a lot of room
and has less writing around it. They also have an action shot that captures the
surfer, skater and animal in full view so people can really see what they are
buying and how well the sport/animal looks. They also use contrasting colours
so that the text can be shown fully so ads or the title can stand out to the
reader without having any interruptions.
• What aspects of the research will you include within your on work?
I will let the picture have a lot of room to be shown so that they reader can
see what the magazine is about. Also I will have minimal ads like the surf
magazine because I want to focus it more on the topic I choose and also I
don’t want it to block the picture because that takes away from the beauty of
the shot which wouldn’t look good if it had to much covering it. I will also
have a action shot for the front cover because it shows the sport in the best
way possible so people will want to buy the magazine and see more action
clips.
Choose a recent product similar to your own and annotate it- scan real magazines or use issuu.com
Type of content- studio/location photography, articles, reviews, adverts
Conventions – colour schemes, photography, writing style, text/picture ratio, font choices, mode of address
Codes – Written, symbolic
Audience appeal- how does it make its audience want to buy/read it?
Choose a recent product similar to your own and annotate it- scan real magazines or use issuu.com
Type of content- studio/location photography, articles, reviews, adverts
Conventions – colour schemes, photography, writing style, text/picture ratio, font choices, mode of address
Codes – Written, symbolic
Audience appeal- how does it make its audience want to buy/read it?
Choose a recent product similar to your own and annotate it- scan real magazines or use issuu.com
Type of content- studio/location photography, articles, reviews, adverts
Conventions – colour schemes, photography, writing style, text/picture ratio, font choices, mode of address
Codes – Written, symbolic
Audience appeal- how does it make its audience want to buy/read it?
List all products researched in previous sections. Include anything additional you have watched/read in preparation for production. Alphabetise your list.
